SED EL34s!!!!

[eudaimonia02912]

I got a matched quad today, and just now got a chance to play for an extended period. (I posted something in another thread earlier after 10 minutes on play.)

These tubes are clear winners, though they do have some cons that I will describe below.

Compared to the stock Mesa 6L6s, the sound is fuller, thicker, but smoother, and yet just as clear. If you think your Mark V can be a bit bright and brittle, this will fix that. JJ EL34s smooth the top end and add some fullness, but the SEDs do this even more, will also adding bottom end and remaining clear. (The JJs are a touch muddy.) EL34s typically have less bass than 6L6s, in my experience, and from what I've heard from others. But these SEDs do not seem to be missing any bottom end. On the contrary, they make the amp sound heavier.

I found myself feeling truly inspired by the tone for the first time in a few weeks. I was doing all sorts of crazy Nuno and Via licks on channels 2 and 3. I find that my notes on the high frets sound thicker and fuller, even if I continue to use the bridge pickup. (I general switch to my neck pickup as soon as I get over the 12th fret.)

To give you an idea of the smoothness: I ended up moving the presence up on each channel after installing these (over the JJ EL34s I had in temporarily). I also found that I could now crank the treble on channel 2, crunch mode, for maximum Marshall-style gain, but without making the sound too brittle.

The downsides: compared to the JJ EL34s I had (but not to the stock Mesa 6L6s), these are definitely noisier. The JJs were very quiet. I got to turn my ISP decimator down after switching to the JJs. When I put the SEDs back in, I had to turn it back up, though I still have it lower than when I was using the Mesa 6L6s. The other downside is that I noticed that there's now a faint hum when channel 3 is in triode mode. (Someone else reported this as well on his amp, though he was using stock tubes.) The hum does not get louder with volume, master, or gain, and it is only noticeable in a quiet room if you are near the amp. Switching to pentode eliminates the hum.

 

[Heritage Softail]

Great post! The details were exactly what I was looking for. I have the EL34JJ's in now. I also had a 4 hour long jam session last night. I really like ch2/3. Still not happy with ch1 dropping off in moderate gain settings, but the cleans are fine. Have not spent much time with strat/compressor on clean to feel that out. Unfortunately sleep and work interfere with music.....

 

[NR2112]

great post and review. I should have to try these, ive been hearing good things about SED

 

[jpdennis]

... These tubes are clear winners, though they do have some cons that I will describe ...

+1 I am using SED where I can (wish they made EL84 tubes )

I noticed the difference with my Mark III more than my Heartbreaker. Of course I had very little playtime with the HB before going to SED. I have had many hours on the HB since then and it is becoming my favorite amp to date. Also, I only had about 10 minutes on the Mark III after putting the tubes in but for those few minutes I must say the Mark lost all the nasal and thin sound. The bottom was not near as muddy. Over all I am very happy. Of course I just got some information from BoogieBabies' post in another thread AND I have really not had any real play time on the Mark III to get the most out of the tubes. I will be remedying that tonight :wink:

As far as noise and hum, I half to add that I have changed all my preamp tubes as well and went for a particular cocktail. I have very little if any hum and no noise from the HB. While I can currently say the same for the Mark III, as I just mentioned I really don't have any play time at all to speak of to really make an accurate statement. More later.

Dennis

 

[jpdennis]

O.K. I finally got about an hour of playtime on the Mark III and used the information for many TAE setting adjustments from Boogiebabies input in the following thread http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=44956

It was amazing. :shock: :shock: :shock: Now I am so confused as to what this amp cannot do :!: I mean I can get some wicked cleans, creamy smooth solos, crunchy chords, soft jazz to ear bleeding metal. I have yet to have any speaker breakup with the EV nor is there any hum or noise. The reverb is either light (never off unless I dial it to zero) and serene or extremely wet using the reverb pedal with this amp. I can not wait to start playing with the use of my FX loop and the Line 6 M13.

So, though I use SED EL34 & 6L6GC for my Mark III I have to say that in the Class A mode alone I have plenty of the same variations with a more defined sound. And I can play with ever so slightly more volume. But even in Class A the cut in wattage does not equate to a substantial cut in "loud". :mrgreen:

I'm thinking the SED tubes are becoming my new best friend.

Dennis

 

[Old BF Shred]

I got a matched quad today, and just now got a chance to play for an extended period. (I posted something in another thread earlier after 10 minutes on play.)

These tubes are clear winners, though they do have some cons that I will describe below.

Compared to the stock Mesa 6L6s, the sound is fuller, thicker, but smoother, and yet just as clear. If you think your Mark V can be a bit bright and brittle, this will fix that. JJ EL34s smooth the top end and add some fullness, but the SEDs do this even more, will also adding bottom end and remaining clear. (The JJs are a touch muddy.) EL34s typically have less bass than 6L6s, in my experience, and from what I've heard from others. But these SEDs do not seem to be missing any bottom end. On the contrary, they make the amp sound heavier.

I found myself feeling truly inspired by the tone for the first time in a few weeks. I was doing all sorts of crazy Nuno and Via licks on channels 2 and 3. I find that my notes on the high frets sound thicker and fuller, even if I continue to use the bridge pickup. (I general switch to my neck pickup as soon as I get over the 12th fret.)

To give you an idea of the smoothness: I ended up moving the presence up on each channel after installing these (over the JJ EL34s I had in temporarily). I also found that I could now crank the treble on channel 2, crunch mode, for maximum Marshall-style gain, but without making the sound too brittle.

The downsides: compared to the JJ EL34s I had (but not to the stock Mesa 6L6s), these are definitely noisier. The JJs were very quiet. I got to turn my ISP decimator down after switching to the JJs. When I put the SEDs back in, I had to turn it back up, though I still have it lower than when I was using the Mesa 6L6s. The other downside is that I noticed that there's now a faint hum when channel 3 is in triode mode. (Someone else reported this as well on his amp, though he was using stock tubes.) The hum does not get louder with volume, master, or gain, and it is only noticeable in a quiet room if you are near the amp. Switching to pentode eliminates the hum.

If you could please tell us.......
Where did you buy your SED's and what is the rating indicated (either on the box or the base of the tubes)?

Thanks and glad you like 'em. I am pleased what they do for my Ace.

 

[eudaimonia02912]

I bought my SED EL34s from the Tube Depot. They were rated 29.

 

[Heritage Softail]

I bought my SED EL34s from the Tube Depot. They were rated 29.

Still in love with those tubes?? I have some JJ's. Pretty good. I was looking up the SED's and they are supposed to be manufactured in the same St Pete plant as the pre 2003 Svetlana's that were most excellent for metal. Interesting that the 'new' Svetlana's have a disclaimer on them that they are not the same tube as in the past.

The JJ's make a LP in MK1 mode absolutely sweet....